SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infections: Incidence and Risk Factors in a Large European Multicentric Cohort of Health Workers.

Background: The research aimed to investigate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and their determinants in a large European cohort of more than 60,000 health workers. Methods: A multicentric retrospective cohort study, involving 12 European centers, was carried out within the ORCHESTRA project, collecting data up to 18 November 2021 on fully vaccinated health workers. The cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections was investigated with its association with occupational and social-demographic characteristics (age, sex, job title, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, antibody titer levels, and time from the vaccination course completion). Results: Among 64,172 health workers from 12 European health centers, 797 breakthrough infections were observed (cumulative incidence of 1.2%). The primary analysis using individual data on 8 out of 12 centers showed that age and previous infection significantly modified breakthrough infection rates. In the meta-analysis of aggregated data from all centers, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and the standardized antibody titer were inversely related to the risk of breakthrough infection (p = 0.008 and p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: The inverse correlation of antibody titer with the risk of breakthrough infection supports the evidence that vaccination plays a primary role in infection prevention, especially in health workers. Cellular immunity, previous clinical conditions, and vaccination timing should be further investigated

Allergic sensitization to common pets (cats/dogs) according to different possible modalities of exposure: an Italian Multicenter Study

Background: The query "are there animals at home?" is usually administered for collecting information on anamnesis. This modality to consider exposure to pet allergens constitutes a potential bias in epidemiological studies and in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate/quantify different modalities of exposure to cat/dog in inducing allergic sensitization. Methods: Thirty Italian Allergy units participated in this study. Each centre was required to collect the data of at least 20 consecutive outpatients sensitized to cat/dog allergens. A standardized form reported all demographic data and a particular attention was paid in relieving possible modalities of exposure to cat/dog. Results: A total 723 patients sensitized to cat/dog were recorded, 359 (49.65%) reported direct pet contact, 213 patients (29.46%) were pet owners, and 146 subjects (20.19%) were exposed to pets in other settings. Other patients were sensitized by previous pet ownership (150-20.75%) or indirect contact (103-14.25%), in 111 subjects (15.35%) any contact was reported. Conclusions: Only 213 patients (29.46%) would be classified as "exposed to animals" and 510 (70.54%) as "not exposed" according to usual query. Our classification has shown that many "not-exposed" subjects (399-55.19%) were "really exposed". The magnitude of exposure to pet allergens at home is not related exclusively to pet ownership. These considerations should be taken into account during the planning of epidemiological studies and in clinical practice for the management of pet allergic individuals

A survey of clinical features of allergic rhinitis in adults

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has high prevalence and substantial socio-economic burden. Material/Methods: The study included 35 Italian Centers recruiting an overall number of 3383 adult patients with rhinitis (48% males, 52% females, mean age 29.1, range 18\u201345 years). For each patient, the attending physician had to fill in a standardized questionnaire, covering, in particular, some issues such as the ARIA classification of allergic rhinitis (AR), the results of skin prick test (SPT), the kind of treatment, the response to treatment, and the satisfaction with treatment. Results: Out of the 3383 patients with rhinitis, 2788 (82.4%) had AR: 311 (11.5%) had a mild intermittent, 229 (8.8%) a mild persistent, 636 (23.5%) a moderate-severe intermittent, and 1518 (56.1%) a moderate-severe persistent form. The most frequently used drugs were oral antihistamines (77.1%) and topical corticosteroids (60.8%). The response to treatment was judged as excellent in 12.2%, good in 41.3%, fair in 31.2%, poor in 14.5%, and very bad in 0.8% of subjects. The rate of treatment dissatisfaction was significantly higher in patients with moderate-to-severe AR than in patients with mild AR (p<0.0001). Indication to allergen immunotherapy (AIT) was significantly more frequent (p<0.01) in patients with severe AR than with mild AR. . Conclusions: These fndings confirm the appropriateness of ARIA guidelines in classifying the AR patients and the association of severe symptoms with unsuccessful drug treatment. The optimal targeting of patients to be treated with AIT needs to be reassessed

Industrial air pollution and respiratory health status among residents in an industrial area in central Italy

The area of Civitavecchia (Lazio region, Central Italy) has been a reason of concern in the past because of environmental air contamination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between air pollution from different sources and respiratory symptoms and lung function in the population. A sample of 1177 residents underwent medical examination and lung function tests. Information on individual characteristics, histories of exposure and medical history were collected through a validated questionnaire. Long-term exposure to industrial, harbour, biomass combustion emissions (PM10) and urban traffic (NOx) at residential address was assessed using a Lagrangian dispersion model. The associations between exposure and wheezing and dyspnea were assessed using logistic regression models, while modified Poisson regression models were used to evaluate cough with phlegm. Relationships between exposure and lung function were analysed using linear mixed-effects models and cross-correlation. PM10 emissions from the harbour were associated with lower lung function parameters (FEV1: β = -0.12, 95% CI -0.21 -0.03; p = 0.02; FEV1/FVC: β = -1.67, (-3.10 -0.23); p = 0.02. This association was observed also in healthy subjects, but not in females. We found, even if at low exposure level, an effect of environmental PM10 exposure from harbour on lung function

Asthma and rhinitis in cleaning workers: a systematic review of epidemiological studies.

Objective: This article presents a systematic review of epidemiological studies linking cleaning work and risk of asthma and rhinitis. Methods: Published reports were identified from PubMed covering the years from 1976 through June 30, 2012. In total, we identified 24 papers for inclusion in the review. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Strengthening of the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement checklist of 22 items for cross-sectional, cohort and case-control studies. Results: Increased risk of asthma or rhinitis has been shown in 79% of included epidemiological studies. In four studies the increased risk of asthma in cleaning workers was confirmed by objective tests, such as bronchial hyper-reactivity or airflow obstruction. Level of exposure to cleaning products, cleaning sprays, bleach, ammonia, mixing products and specific job tasks has been identified as specific causes of asthma and rhinitis. Conclusions: Possible preventive measures encompass the substitution of cleaning sprays, bleach and ammonia, avoidance of mixing products, the use of respiratory protective devices, worker education and medical surveillance. (aut. ref.

Prevalence and determinants of asthma and rhinitis in an Italian cleaning company from Terni, Italy

Background: Professional and domestic cleaning has been associated with new onset and work-exacerbated asthma and rhinitis. Cleaners are exposed to multiple cleaning agents. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and determinants of asthma and rhinitis in 234 subjects working in an Italian cleaning company based in Terni. Method: In this cross-sectional study a cohort of 234 cleaning company workers (126 cleaners and 108 non-exposed controls), completed the Italian version of the ECRHS I and ECRHS II occupational modules to assess exposure to cleaning agents and prevalence of asthma and rhinitis. They also performed lung function tests. Statistical differences in continuous variables were tested by the two-tailed paired t test. Differences in proportions were tested by the V2 or Fisher’s exact test, when appropriate. Differences were considered significant at P &lt; 0.05. The influence of cleaning tasks or products, schooling, sex, age and smoking status (predictors) on asthma or rhinitis (dependent variables) was analyzed by logistic regression. Result: The 234 subjects had a mean age of 44 years; cleaners were 4 years older than controls. 79% were female and 43% were current smokers. Median schooling was 17 years (range 10–24). 54% of the cohort worked as cleaners in public buildings, hospitals and schools, and 46% were white-collar workers and drivers who were not exposed to cleaning products (controls). The prevalence of current asthma was 6% in cleaners and 1% in controls. Prevalence of rhinitis was 17% and 15%, respectively. Using glass cleaning sprays at work ‡1 day/week was associated with current asthma (OR = 19.0, CI 2.1–159.9). Cleaners &lt;39 years old had a greater risk of asthma (OR = 5.0, CI 1.2–21.7) than older co-workers, after adjusting for other predictors. Conclusion: We confirm that exposure to cleaning products is associated with asthma. Use of glass cleaning sprays is an important determinant. The healthy worker effect could account for the higher risk of asthma that we found in younger cleaners. Moreover, there is evidence that the incidence of work-related symptoms is higher in the first 2–3 years after starting exposure and tends to decrease thereafte